3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one (CAS 13074-63-0) — Musky Base Note Fragrance Ingredient
3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one
CAS 13074-63-0
What Is 3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one?
3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one is a synthetic musk compound used in modern perfumery. It creates subtle animalic and powdery effects in fragrances, often found in laundry detergents and body care products. This ingredient matters because it provides a clean musk alternative to traditional animal-derived musks, offering ethical and sustainable options while maintaining sophisticated scent profiles.
Safety Profile
USE WITH AWARENESSWhat Does 3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one Smell Like?
A warm, musky-woody scent with a clean laundry-like character. Opens with a slightly powdery, almond-like nuance that evolves into a smooth, skin-like muskiness. The dry-down reveals subtle animalic tones reminiscent of clean hair or sun-warmed skin. Unlike traditional musks, it lacks heavy animalic facets, presenting instead as a modern, airy interpretation with excellent diffusion.
In Famous Fragrances
Fragrance associations may not reflect actual formulations.
Used as a clean musk backbone that blends with vanilla and amber notes to create the signature ‘second skin’ effect.
Provides the subtle muskiness that makes this fragrance smell like warm, clean skin without overt animalic notes.
Works alongside other musks to create the perfume’s distinctive powdery-woody signature with excellent longevity.
2D Molecular Structure
SMILES: CCCCCC1C(C)CCC1=O
Chemistry, Properties & Perfumer Guide
The Chemistry
3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one belongs to the macrocyclic musk family, though with a smaller ring structure than traditional musks. Synthesized through cyclopentanone alkylation routes, this ketone demonstrates how subtle structural changes can dramatically alter olfactory properties. The pentyl side chain and methyl group positioning create optimal volatility and diffusion characteristics for modern fragrance applications.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Appearance | Colorless to pale yellow liquid |
|---|---|
| Molecular Weight | 168.28 g/mol |
| Boiling Point | ~250 °C (estimated) |
| Density | ~0.89 g/cm³ (estimated) |
| XLogP | ~3.5 (estimated) |
Perfumer Guide
| Application | Typical % | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine Fragrance | 0.5-2% | Up to 5% | Musk base note |
| Laundry Care | 0.1-0.5% | Up to 1% | Clean musk effect |
| Body Care | 0.05-0.2% | Up to 0.5% | Skin-scent enhancer |
Classic Accords
Tip: Use at 0.5-1% in bases to create diffusion without overpowering other notes.
Alternatives & Comparisons
For a smoother, more powdery musk character in sophisticated compositions.
Safety, Regulatory & Sustainability
⚠ Regulatory Disclaimer
General reference only. Consult current IFRA Standards Library before formulating.
IFRA Status
No current IFRA restrictions. Listed on IFRA Transparency List.
RIFM Assessment
Under evaluation by RIFM for comprehensive safety assessment.
Sustainability
As a synthetic musk, this compound provides an ethical alternative to animal-derived musks. Production avoids wildlife harvesting concerns while offering consistent quality and supply stability. Modern synthesis routes aim to minimize environmental impact through efficient catalysis and reduced waste streams.
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References
- IFRA Transparency List (2023). 3-Methyl-2-pentylcyclopentan-1-one. IFRA
Data: PubChem (NIH), PubMed, RIFM, IFRA. Last reviewed: Apr 2026.
Report a data errorIngredient Data Sheet
CAS 13074-63-0Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 168.28 g/mol🔬 PubChem |
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.4🔬 PubChem |
| Boiling Point | 212 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Vapor Pressure | 0.0933 mmHg @ 25°C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 86 °C🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Involatility Index | 0.0078💻 Calculated |
| log Kp (skin permeability) | -1.313💻 Calculated |
| SMILES | CCCCCC1C(CCC1=O)C🔬 PubChem |
Volatility & Performance
| Fragrance Note | Heart💻 Calculated |
| Volatility Class | Very slow💻 Calculated |
| Persistence Score | 1.9 / 5💻 Calculated |
Odor & Flavor
| Primary Descriptors | muskywoody• leffingwell |
| Functional Groups | ketone💻 RDKit |
| “Fruity-sweet, in dilution somewhat floral odor of moderate to poor tenacity. The fruity notes are much more pronounced in this ketone than in Dihydrojasmonone, and the floral notes not nearly as warm-herbaceous.”📖 Arctander | |
Physical data: PubChem (NIH/NLM), U.S. EPA CompTox Dashboard, EPA OPERA models, RDKit. Odor & flavor: Arctander (Perfume & Flavor Chemicals), Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Leffingwell. Thresholds: van Gemert (Compilations of Odour Threshold Values). Regulatory: IFRA Standards 51st, FEMA GRAS. Trade names: Surburg (Common Fragrance & Flavor Materials). All data compiled and cross-referenced for perfumertools.com.
Physicochemical Properties
DTXSID: DTXSID30864354
Physical Properties
| Molecular Weight | 168.28 g/mol🔬 EPA CompTox |
| Density | 0.884 g/cm^3📊 OPERA |
| Boiling Point | 224.396 °C📊 OPERA |
| Melting Point | 3.651 °C📊 OPERA |
| Flash Point | 85.627 °C📊 OPERA |
| Refractive Index | 1.444 Dimensionless📊 OPERA |
| Molar Volume | 192.297 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
Partition & Solubility
| LogP (Octanol-Water) | 3.479 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 5.5) | 3.479 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogD (pH 7.4) | 3.479 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| LogKoa (Octanol-Air) | 5.87 Log10 unitless📊 OPERA |
| Water Solubility | 0.002 mol/L📊 OPERA |
| Henry's Law Constant | 0 atm-m3/mole📊 OPERA |
Transport Properties
| Vapor Pressure | 0.072 mmHg📊 OPERA |
| Viscosity | 3.09 cP📊 OPERA |
| Surface Tension | 28.982 dyn/cm📊 OPERA |
| Thermal Conductivity | 129.43 mW/(m*K)📊 OPERA |
Molecular Descriptors
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 17.07 Ų💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Donors | 0 count💻 Computed |
| H-Bond Acceptors | 1 count💻 Computed |
| Rotatable Bonds | 4 count💻 Computed |
| Aromatic Rings | 0 count💻 Computed |
| Molar Refractivity | 51.123 cm^3/mol📊 OPERA |
| Polarizability | 20.267 Å^3📊 OPERA |
Data Sources:
🔬 EPA Experimental data from U.S. EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard & CTX APIs. 📊 OPERA Predicted using EPA's OPERA QSAR models. 💻 Computed Calculated from SMILES using RDKit.
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